Collective Minds: An Apparel Company Built to Tackle Mental Health

The world has started to come out of its shell, and so have we. This is the first post of many to come for Collective Minds, an apparel company that was built to tackle mental health.

The stigmas built up around mental health have been a prevalent problem in the US and the rest of globe. This is something that has grown over time, and the overall mental well-being of our world has gotten worse. Technology continues to grip younger generations to their phones and other tech advancements that increase our ability to communicate with others, but come at a cost to mental health as people vye for likes and connection that is not realistic over the web. We are in the midst of a mental health pandemic. Unfortunately, depression and anxiety are not the only lingering effects. We’ve seen patients who have relapsed, leaning back on substance use in an effort to alleviate the feelings of hopelessness that the uncertainty of the pandemic has brought on. In fact, recent statistics show 13 percent of adults have turned to substances over the last year to help themselves cope.  (Reference: #1). 

The cost of mental health is increasing as well: According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, spending for treatment of mental health and substance abuse disorders from all public and private sources was expected to total $280.5 billion in 2020, up from $171.7 billion in 2009 (Reference: #2)  

While there is this increase in need and cost, there are new solutions that are continuing to come in the form of software and tech. Major needs are met with major investments and (hopefully) improvements. Companies like Real, 7Cups, Cerebral, BetterHelp, and Coa all focus on digital health with a focus on working out your brain to improve the well-being of their users. The ease of access to these technologies is great to provide more ways people can get help, but they don't fully encompass the education and removal of stigma around how people talk and think about mental health issues with themselves or each other. "The major factors driving the growth of behavioral health software are the increasing adoption of behavioral health software, availability of government funding, government initiatives to encourage EHR adoption in behavioral health organizations, favorable behavioral health reforms in the US, and high demand for mental health services amidst provider shortage." (Reference: #3)

Ironically, as TechCrunch states that those that start a company are more likely to be depressed, have ADHD, and suffer from substance abuse (Reference: #4). The people starting these tech companies are more likely to suffer mental health issues than their counterparts. How strange. 

Thankfully there are also non-profits, like The Mental Health Coalition (https://www.thementalhealthcoalition.org/) who are working tirelessly to remove that stigma and get people talking, asking for help, and educating themselves and others. They are still fairly new but have already invested in a ton of research, their own strong coalition of partnerships, and an abundant resources page for folks to peruse.

Please tune back in here to read and learn more about mental health news, educational pieces, and shared pieces from our wonderful partners like The Mental Health Coalition.

All the best, Alex
CEO / Founder of Collective Minds Apparel

References:
#1 - (https://www.psychiatryadvisor.com/home/topics/mood-disorders/depressive-disorder/the-covid-and-mental-health-pandemic-will-lead-to-increased-cases-of-depression-throughout-the-year/)
#2 - (https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2021/07/05/health-care-costs-mental-health.html)
#3 - (https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/06/24/2252426/28124/en/Global-Behavioral-Mental-Health-Software-Market-2021-to-2026-Growing-Emphasis-on-Subscription-Models-Presents-Opportunities.html)
#4 - (https://techcrunch.com/2021/06/28/ending-the-mental-health-stigma-in-the-tech-community/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAG0_bjF2OaiR78fVjPUYBYSL8UsxmF97yTV8SaRO5aoM9tUYtemmdEzjZHm038fPbaYvNbgWt5ZuqQwqo_vmJz4H15FQ4BF0Rfx_qdXHTu_P6Y_hI75MCJIz3g_uywfzz5jeIDlYI92K-J77CNEpt3vO9rnDcx_G-CBKQbKoXr6K)